A liquid fast, in which you consume nothing but liquids for anywhere for a few days up to several months, will resort in the quickest weight loss short of complete fasting, according to Vanderbilt University. Since you're taking in so few calories, you can expect to lose about a pound every other day for as long as you follow the diet. However, like other fast weight-loss programs, you'll face problems maintaining your weight loss once you stop the diet.
Significance
Many people decide on their own to follow a liquid fast for weight loss, but in some cases their physician recommends the program. For example, at Thomas Jefferson University, seriously overweight people can participate in a medically supervised liquid fast to lose weight. In addition, many gastric bypass surgeons require their patients to follow such a program before the surgery, because losing some weight before surgery helps to reduce surgical risks.
Function
When you're following a liquid fast, you'll consume nothing but liquid shakes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, according to the University of Missouri Health Care System. That means no solid food---even an occasional snack can undermine the diet. The liquid shakes will provide your nutritional needs for as long as you follow the diet.
Ingredients
Typically, liquid fast weight-loss programs use high-protein commercially made liquid shakes, according to Vanderbilt University. These shakes normally contain very little fat, no sugar and only a few carbohydrates in the form of fiber. In fact, the shakes generally provide lots of fiber, which can prevent you from becoming constipated and help keep you feeling fuller.
Time Frame
In medically supervised liquid fast programs for weight loss, you'll remain on the liquid diet for a set period of time---in some cases up to 24 weeks, according to Thomas Jefferson University. Then, you'll transition to solid foods. Counseling and behavior modification both represent important parts of the program, because they'll help you to change your behavior so that you don't regain the weight.
Considerations
Long-term liquid fasts aren't healthy and can cause some serious health problems, including heart beat abnormalities and even sudden death in very rare cases, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You need medical supervision to make sure you're not risking your health to lose weight, so if you're not enrolled in a weight-loss program, you should work closely with your physician while you follow your liquid fast.
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